Missouri rent guide
The Cheapest Cities to Rent in Missouri (June 2026)
Data as of Jun 9, 2026 · 264 rentals across 48 Missouri cities
Missouri is anchored by two affordable big metros (Kansas City and St. Louis) with a lot of value around the edges. The deep value is in the mid-size cities (Springfield, Joplin, St. Joseph, Independence), while the premium sits in the affluent St. Louis suburbs like Clayton and Chesterfield. We track every apartment we can find and rank the cities below by their typical rent, straight from live listings.
The lowest typical rent right now is in Springfield (about $950/mo), while Belton sits at the top ($1,505/mo). For most renters the choice is metro core vs the affluent suburbs vs the mid-size cities; the bedroom count you need matters from there.
Missouri cities by typical rent, cheapest first
| # | City | Typical | From | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield | $950 | $815 | 17 |
| 2 | Liberty | $950 | $925 | 5 |
| 3 | Florissant | $1,015 | $840 | 7 |
| 4 | Kansas City | $1,098 | $815 | 121 |
| 5 | Independence | $1,133 | $800 | 13 |
| 6 | Columbia | $1,175 | $800 | 10 |
| 7 | Raymore | $1,285 | $902 | 5 |
| 8 | Saint Louis | $1,375 | $850 | 7 |
| 9 | Chesterfield | $1,455 | $1,178 | 7 |
| 10 | Belton | $1,505 | $962 | 7 |
How we rank them
“Typical” is the median rent across everything we track in a city, so half the listings are cheaper and half pricier. “From” is the single cheapest unit listed right now. We include cities with at least five live listings and exclude single rooms and senior housing. Small-city medians can swing on a handful of listings, so the bigger markets like Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield are the most stable. Refreshes when our data does (last updated Jun 9, 2026).
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest city to rent in Missouri?
By typical (median) rent it's Springfield, around $950/mo, then Liberty and Florissant. The best value is in the mid-size cities (Springfield, Joplin, St. Joseph) and the outer suburbs of the two big metros. The ranking rebuilds from live listings, so it moves with the market.
Is Kansas City or St. Louis cheaper to rent in?
They run close. Kansas City is about $1,098/mo typical and St. Louis about $1,375; both city cores are moderate for big metros. The real premium is in the affluent St. Louis suburbs (Clayton, Chesterfield) and the south Kansas City suburbs, while the mid-size cities run cheaper than either.
Where is rent most expensive in Missouri?
Belton tops the list at about $1,505/mo, which tracks: the priciest rents are the affluent St. Louis suburbs (Clayton, Chesterfield, Kirkwood) and parts of the Kansas City metro. Springfield, Joplin and St. Joseph are far cheaper.
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